Switchboard Operator, Including Answering Service Salary Information in California

The average annual salaries for switchboard operators, including answering service in the state of California are shown in Table 1. The comparison of the salary statistics of switchboard operators, including answering service among California areas is shown in Table 2. The salary statistics are based on the national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 and published in April 2023 [1].

Table 1 & 2. Annual Salary of Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California (2022 Survey)

Percentile bracketAverage annual salary
10th Percentile Wage
$32,040
25th Percentile Wage
$35,750
50th Percentile Wage
$42,870
75th Percentile Wage
$64,730
90th Percentile Wage
$71,810

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for switchboard operators, including answering service in California in 5 percentile scales. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) is $71,810. The median (50th percentile) annual salary is $42,870. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent is $32,040.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2022)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of switchboard operators, including answering service from 2012 to 2022.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth10-Year Growth
2022
$42,870
11.73% 34.76%
2021
$37,840
-1.64% -
2020
$38,460
4.84% -
2019
$36,600
9.43% -
2018
$33,150
6.73% -
2017
$30,920
2.17% -
2016
$30,250
0.33% -
2015
$30,150
1.99% -
2014
$29,550
3.21% -
2013
$28,600
2.20% -
2012
$27,970
- -

Table 3. Median Annual Salary of Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service in California Cities (2022 Survey)

Table 3 shows the median annual salary of switchboard operators, including answering service in some California cities and metropolitan areas. We note that the median annual salary of switchboard operators, including answering service in state of California ranges from $20,410 to $56,540. The highest paying area for switchboard operators, including answering service in California is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara with a median annual salary of $56,540. The second highest paying city/area in California State is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont (mean annual salary $50,180). The lowest paying area is El Centro with a median annual salary of $20,410.

Cities/Areas Median Annual Salary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
$56,540
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
$50,180
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City
$44,770
Napa
$44,370
Modesto
$42,860
Stockton
$42,640
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos
$40,200
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
$39,350
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
$38,670
Salinas
$37,880
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$37,270
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
$36,910
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
$36,780
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
$36,700
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$36,630
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$36,300
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
$36,080
Fresno
$35,910
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward
$35,700
Bakersfield-Delano
$35,040
Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville
$34,640
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
$34,630
Redding
$34,360
Merced
$32,900
Visalia-Porterville
$32,200
Chico
$31,030
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale
$30,210
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana
$29,130
Vallejo-Fairfield
$28,610
Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$28,250
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine
$27,230
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta
$27,180
Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area
$27,120
Yuba City
$26,220
El Centro
$20,410